[Unsafe abortion in Pernambuco State, Brazil, 1996-2006].

This study estimates the total number of unsafe abortions and the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, and in the State's micro-regions (GERES) from 1996 to 2006. A descriptive, ecological, time trend study was performed on the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births. The number of hospital admissions from complications of abortions was obtained from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). The Alan Guttmacher Institute methodology was used to estimate the number of unsafe abortions. The majority of admissions and estimated unsafe abortions occurred in the 1st and 4th GERES. As for the ratio of unsafe abortions to live births, there was an upward trend in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th GERES and a decrease in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th GERES, but the trends were only statistically significant in the 1st,5th, 10th, and 11th GERES. In conclusion, Pernambuco showed a high abortion-related hospitalization rate from 1996 to 2007. The estimated number of unsafe abortions was high, with an average of 56,457 per year, 4,705 per month, or 157 per day.